Connector establishing reliable connection by relative movement of a contact-holding insulator block and its cover

ABSTRACT

A connector has an insulator block holding contacts and a cover. The connector connects to a second connector having a housing for removably receiving the cover and having conductors corresponding to the contacts. The insulator block is movable in the cover perpendicular to the direction of contact connection by a manual movement of the cover. At least one elongate slot is formed in either the insulator block or the cover with a slot length equal to a sum of the length of movement and a predetermined length. A protrusion with a length equal to the predetermined length extends from the other of the insulator block or cover, and into the elongate slot. Preferably, an urging leaf spring and a stopper leaf spring are attached to one of the insulator block or cover to be in a lock engagement with the other unless the cover is placed in the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a connector which establishes electricconnection as a first connector to a second connector by a relativemovement caused between a contact-holding insulator block of the firstconnector and a cover for the insulator block by a manual movement ofthe cover in a predetermined direction of connection of the first andthe second connectors perpendicularly of the predetermined direction.

Connectors of this type are already known. In the manner which willlater become clear with regard to a conventional connector of the typedescribed, one and the other of the insulator block and the cover of thefirst connector are provided with an elongate slot and a protrusionwhich has a circular cylindrical shape and is slidably movable in theelongate slot. The insulator block rigidly holds a plurality of electriccontacts. The second connector comprises a housing for removablyreceiving the cover of the first connector in the predetermineddirection and a plurality of electric conductors within the housing inone-to-one correspondence to the electric contacts.

When it is desired to connect the first connector to the secondconnector, the cover is held by hand and is pushed into the housing.This manual movement of the cover causes the insulator block to move theelectric contacts towards the electric conductors and to establish anelectric connection between the electric contacts and the electricconductors.

In order so to cause the relative movement, the elongate slot is formedwith a small angle formed relative to the predetermined direction.Merely for brevity of the description, it will be presumed for the timebeing that the elongate slot is formed in the cover with the protrusionprotruded outwardly from the insulator block. Usually, the cover isprovided with two elongate slots along each inner face of the cover andconsequently four elongate slots in total. Accordingly, the insulatorblock has four protrusions.

Despite this number of pairs of the elongate slots and the protrusions,the insulator block is unavoidably subjected to a rotational movementwithin the cover. This is particularly the case while the cover ispushed into and pulled out of the housing. Such a rotational movementmakes it impossible to connect the first connector to the secondconnector. Even if it were possible to establish the electricconnection, the electric contacts and/or the electric conductors may bedamaged. The electric contacts and/or the electric conductors are liableto damages also on disconnecting the first connector from the secondconnector with the electric connection disestablished.

Furthermore, the relative movement is appreciably free. As aconsequence, the insulator block is too much readily movable between afirst and a second position at which the electric contacts are broughtout of and into electric connection from and to the electric conductors.If the insulator block is put in the second position before the firstconnector is brought into touch with the second connector, it is next toimpossible to connect the first connector to the second connector. Thecover must therefore be pushed into the housing with the insulator blockkept additionally by hand in the first position and with the hand leftfrom the insulator block when the cover is placed in position in thehousing. This is troublesome.

The relative movement may furthermore result in pull of the cover out ofthe housing with an objectionable angle formed between the predetermineddirection and a direction of pull. This gives rise to application of anunnatural force to the electric contacts before the electric contactsare disengaged from the electric conductors.

In order to obviate the trouble experienced on connecting the firstconnector to the second connector and the unnatural force applied to theelectric contacts on disconnecting the first connector from the secondconnector, a seemingly improved connector has been proposed with a coilspring used to urge the insulator block towards the first positionwithin the cover. In this event, a mechanism is indispensable to forcethe insulator block towards the second position when the cover ispositioned almost in place within the housing. This necessitates acomplicated design.

The cover is often pushed into the housing obliquely relative to thepredetermined direction. Connection of the first connector to the secondconnector is again impossible. The electric contacts and/or the electricconductors may be damaged.

The cover may intentionally or unintentionally be moved relative to theinsulator block in a direction of push to place the insulator block inthe second position while the first connector is left alone withoutbeing connected to the second connector. In such an event, it isimpossible to connect the first connector actually to the secondconnector. The electric contacts and/or the electric conductors mayagain be damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is consequently a principal object of the present invention toprovide a connector which comprises an insulator block rigidly holding aplurality of electric contacts and a cover covering the insulator blockand is capable of establishing a reliable connection as a firstconnector in a predetermined direction of connection to a secondconnector comprising a housing for removably receiving the cover and aplurality of electric conductors in one-to-one correspondence to theelectric contacts with the electric contacts reliably brought intoconnection to the electric conductors.

It is another principal object of this invention to provide a connectorwhich is of the type described and which can be connected to the secondconnector without fail.

It is still another principal object of this invention to provide aconnector which is of the type described and which can reliably bedisconnected from the second connector.

It is yet another principal object of this invention to provide aconnector which is of the type described and which does not damage theelectric contacts and/or the electric conductors on connecting anddisconnecting the first connector to and from the second connector.

It is a further principal object of this invention to provide aconnector which is of the type described and which can be connected tothe second connector with no trouble of additionally touching theinsulator block on connecting the first connector to the secondconnector.

It is a still further principal object of this invention to provide aconnector which is of the type described and which can be disconnectedfrom the second connector with no unnatural force applied to theelectric contacts and/or the electric conductor.

It is a yet further principal object of this invention to provide aconnector which is of the type described and which is simple instructure.

It is a subordinate object of this invention to provide a connectorwhich is of the type described and which can be connected to the secondconnector with the insulator block prevented from being obliquelypositioned relative to the predetermined direction within the cover.

It is another subordinate object of this invention to provide aconnector which is of the type described and in which the insulatorblock is moved substantially in the predetermined direction in additionto the relative movement perpendicular to the predetermined directionbetween a first and a second position at which the insulator block iseventually placed relative to the cover while the first connector isdisconnected and connected from and to the second connector,respectively.

It is still another subordinate object of this invention to provide aconnector which is of the type described and which can correct adirection of push into the housing of the cover together with theinsulator block if the direction of push is only a little different fromthe predetermined direction.

It is yet another subordinate object of this invention to provide aconnector which is of the type described and which can prevent theinsulator block from moving both parallel and perpendicular to thepredetermined direction unless the cover is positioned in the housing.

Other objects of this invention will become clear as the descriptionproceeds.

On setting forth the gist of this invention, it is possible tounderstand that a connector is for connection as a first connector to asecond connector with the first and the second connectors disposed in apredetermined direction and comprises an insulator block rigidly holdinga plurality of electric contacts parallel to the predetermined directionand a cover covering the insulator block and being movable in thepredetermined direction by a length of movement. In the connectorunderstood as above, one and the other of the insulator block and thecover are provided with an elongate slot with a predetermined angleformed relative to the predetermined direction and a protrusion movablein the elongate slot when the cover is moved in the predetermineddirection.

In accordance with this invention, the elongate slot of theabove-understood connector is given in the predetermined direction aslot length which is longer than a sum of the length of the movement anda predetermined length. The protrusion of the above-understood connectoris given a protrusion length which is equal to the predetermined length.

Preferably, the predetermined length is about the length of movementlong. In other words, the slot length should be about twice as long asthat of a conventional connector of the type described. Thepredetermined angle is very preferably less than 45° of angle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a connector according to afirst embodiment of the instant invention and of a counterpart connectorwhich are referred to herein as first and second connectors;

FIG. 2 shows in conjunction with a conventional connector a front viewof two elongate slots and a protrusion movable in each of the elongateslots;

FIG. 3 is a front view of left and right elongate slots and left andright protrusions used in the first connector depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows in two states a front view of an elongate slot and amodified protrusion;

FIG. 5 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the first and thesecond connectors which are brought into mechanical touch with eachother;

FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the first and thesecond connectors connected to each other;

FIG. 7 shows schematic vertical sectional views of a first modifiedconnector and of the second connector with the first modified and thesecond connectors brought into mechanical touch with each other;

FIG. 8 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the first modifiedconnector and of the second connector which are connected to each other;

FIG. 9 schematically shows a partial side view of a first connector anda partially broken away side view of a second connector which areaccording to a second embodiment of this invention and are disconnectedfrom each other;

FIG. 10 schematically shows a partially cut away side view of the secondconnector and, with imaginary lines, a partial side view of the firstconnector, which first and second connectors are those depicted in FIG.9 and are connected to each other;

FIG. 11 schematically shows in vertical section of the first and thesecond connectors put in a disconnected state with the vertical sectiontaken perpendicularly of that depicted in each of FIGS. 5 through 10;and

FIG. 12 schematically shows vertical sectional views of the first andthe second connectors depicted in FIG. 11 and connected to each other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a connector is used as a first connector 15 forconnection to a second connector 17 in a predetermined direction ofconnection. The predetermined direction is a top-bottom direction in thefigure.

Similar to a conventional connector of the type being illustrated, thefirst connector 15 comprises an insulator block 19 and a cover 21covering the insulator block 19. The second connector 17 comprises ahousing 23 for removably receiving the cover 21. In the manner whichwill presently be illustrated, the insulator block 19 rigidly holds aplurality of electric contacts 25. In one-to-one correspondence to theelectric contacts 25, a plurality of electric conductors 27 are rigidlyheld by the housing 23.

When it is desired to connect the first connector 15 to the secondconnector 17, the cover 21 is held by hand and is pushed into thehousing 23 in a direction of push which should be parallel to thepredetermined direction. Electric connection is established between theelectric contacts 25 and the electric conductors 27. When it is desiredto disconnect the first connector 15 from the second connector 17, thecover 21 is pulled by hand out of the housing 23 in a direction of pullwhich should be parallel to the predetermined direction. The electricconnection is disestablished.

Turning to FIG. 2 with FIG. 1 continuously referred to, left and rightelongate holes 29 and 31 are formed in one of the insulator block 19 andthe cover 21 with a predetermined angle formed between the predetermineddirection and each of the elongate slots 29 and 31. The predeterminedangle is small. It will be presumed merely for brevity of thedescription that the elongate slots 29 and 31 are formed in the cover 21along one inner face of the cover 21. In this event, left and rightcircular cylindrical protrusions 33 and 35 are fixed to the insulatorblock 19 so as to be slidably movable in the elongate slots 29 and 31.Although not seen in the figure, like elongate slots are formed in thecover 21 along an opposite inner face. Like protrusions are fixed to theinsulator block 19 so as to be slidably movable in these elongate slots.Such elongate holes should be parallel to the elongate slots 29 and 31.

These four pairs of the elongate slots, such as 29 and 31, and theprotrusions, such as 33 and 35, are similarly operable. Attention willconsequently be directed only to the protrusions 33 and 35 and to theelongate slots 29 and 31.

Inasmuch as the elongate slots 29 and 31 are directed obliquely relativeto the predetermined direction, push of the cover 21 into the housing 23in the direction of push moves the insulator block 19 mainlyperpendicular to the predetermined direction to eventually establish theelectric connection. In FIG. 1, the insulator block 19 therefore has aleft-side end a little spaced from a left-side wall of the cover 21while the first connector 15 is either left alone or before connectionto the second connector 17. It will be noted in FIG. 2 that each of theelongate slots 29 and 31 has an upper end portion which forms a smallerangle with the predetermined direction. This is in order to firmlyestablish the electric connection. The predetermined and the smallerangles are empirically decided.

When the cover 21 is pushed into the housing 23, the cover 21 moves theinsulator block 19 from a first position to a second position. At thefirst and the second positions, the first connector 15 is disconnectedfrom and is connected to the second connector 17, respectively, with theelectric connection disestablished and established. Meanwhile, the cover21 is moved by a length of movement relative to the insulator block 19.It is possible without loss of generality to understand that the lengthof movement is measured in the predetermined direction.

It should be noted here that the elongate slots 29 and 31 and theprotrusions 33 and 35 are manufactured with a certain error ofmanufacture taken into consideration. In other words, the protrusions 33and 35 fit the elongate slots 29 and 31 with a certain clearance. Due tothe clearance, the cover 21 is undesiredly subjected to a rotationalmovement relative to the insulator block as exemplified by an arrowheadarcuate line while given the length of movement. This unavoidably givesrise to a swing of the left protrusion 33 along a dash-dot-line circulararc having its center at the right protrusion 35 and results inincapability of connection and disconnection of the first connector 15to and from the second connector 17, in damages to the electric contacts25 and/or to the electric conductors 27, and in troublesome handing ofthe insulator block 19 in the manner pointed out hereinabove.

Referring afresh to FIG. 3 and again to FIG. 1, the first connector 15is manufactured in accordance with a first embodiment of the presentinvention. In the manner presumed in the foregoing, left and rightelongate holes are formed in the cover 21. Although formed parallel to astraight line and given a common slot length which is different fromthat given to the elongate slots 29 and 31 described in conjunction withFIG. 2 and will shortly be described, the elongate slots of FIG. 3 willbe designated by the reference numerals 29 and 31. First and second leftprotrusion elements 33(1) and 33(2) and first and second rightprotrusion elements 35(1) and 35(2) are fixed to the insulator block 19.Each combination of the left protrusion elements 33 (suffixes omitted)and of the right protrusions 35 (suffixes omitted) is collectivelyreferred to depending on the circumstances as a protrusion. Each of theprotrusion elements 33 and 35 has a circular cylindrical shape.

The slot length is equal to a sum of the length of movement and apredetermined length. Left and right combinations of the protrusionelements 33 and 35 have a common protrusion length which is equal to thepredetermined length. In the manner depicted in FIG. 3, thepredetermined length is substantially equal to the length of movement ifmeasured in the predetermined direction. It should be noted in thisconnection that the expression "protrusion length" does not mean alength of protrusion of each of the left and the right protrusions 33and 35 as measured perpendicularly from a surface of an outer surface ofthe insulator block 19 but is a measure of the length of the left or theright protrusion 33 or 35 taken parallel to the outer surface of block19.

When only the first left protrusion element 33(1) is taken into account,the cover 21 would be subjected to the rotational movement described inconnection with FIG. 2. The rotational movement has its center at thefirst right protrusion element 35(1). The fact is, however, that thesecond left protrusion element 33(2) is used in addition to the firstleft protrusion element 33(1) slidably movable in the left elongate slot29 together with the first left protrusion element 33(1). Defined by thesecond left protrusion element 33(2) and the first right protrusionelement 35(1), a straight line intersects with the left elongate slot 29with an angle θ shifted. The rotational movement is thereforeastonishingly restricted.

This enables a translation of the insulator block 19 relative to thecover 21 to attain a reliable connection and disconnection of the firstconnector 15 to and from the second connector 17 and to establish areliable electric connection and disconnection of the electric contacts25 to and from the electric conductors 27. As a consequence, damages tothe electric contacts 25 and/or the electric conductors 27 are avoided.Furthermore, this obviates necessity of additionally touching theinsulator block 19 by hand on connecting the first connector 15 to thesecond connector 17 and undesirable application of an unnatural force tothe electric contacts 25 and/or the electric conductors 27 ondisconnecting the first connector 15 from the second connector 27.Addition of the second left and right protrusion elements 33(2) and35(2) to the first left and right protrusion elements 33(1) and 35(1)does not much complicate the first connector 15 in structure.

Turning to FIG. 4 with FIG. 1 continuously referred to, left and rightelongate protrusions 37 and 39 (later illustrated) are substituted forthe left and the right combinations of protrusion elements 33 and 35described in conjunction with FIG. 3. Each of the left and the rightelongate protrusions 37 and 39 is given the protrusion length of thepredetermined length. It will readily be understood that the firstconnector 15 with the elongate protrusions 37 and 39 is given salientfeatures described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.

In FIG. 4, a pair of the left elongate slot 29 and the left elongateprotrusion 37 alone is illustrated assuming that the insulator block 19(FIG. 1) is put in the first position. On the right side of the figure,the pair is depicted with an assumption such that the insulator block 19is put in the second position.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the first and the second connectors 15 and 17are depicted in mechanical touch with each other. The cover 21 is notyet actually pushed into the housing 23 together with the insulatorblock 19. As a result, the insulator block 19 is left in the firstposition. The electric connection is not yet established between theelectric contacts 25 and the electric conductors 27.

In the example being illustrated, the housing 23 supports a firstinsulator member 41 rigidly holding the electric conductors 27 and asecond insulator member 43 which is slidable on the first insulatormember 41 and rigidly carries a plurality of intermediate contacts 45 inone-to-one correspondence to the electric conductors 27 and consequentlyto the electric contacts 25. Extended perpendicularly through the secondinsulator member 43, the intermediate contacts 45 are deformable atleast in a direction of movement of the insulator block 19 between thefirst and the second positions. The intermediate contacts 45 (FIG. 5)are not yet in complete touch with full contact pressure against theelectric contacts 25, but contacts 45 are always in electric connectionwith the electric conductors 27.

Turning to FIG. 6, the cover 21 is pushed into the housing 23 up to thelength of movement relative to the insulator block 19. This moves theinsulator block 19 from the first position to the second position. Theintermediate contacts 45 are deformed to be fully brought into electricconnection with full contact pressure against the electric contacts 25.The first connector 15 is connected to the second connector 17 toestablish the electric connection between the electric contacts 25 andthe electric conductors 27.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 5 and 6, the cover 21 preferablycomprises an urging leaf spring 47 having an end fixed to the left-sidewall of the cover 21 and a free end. Between these ends, the urging leafspring 47 has an arcuately protruded portion protruded into a voidformed in the left-side wall of the cover 21. To be slidable along theurging leaf spring 47, an urging member 49 is fixed to a leftward andtopward extension of the insulator block 19 and urges the insulatorblock 19 towards the first position when the insulator block 19 is putin the first position. In this case, the urging member 49 is placedbelow the protruded portion and urges the insulator block 19 rightwardsand topwards. While the cover 21 is pushed in the direction of pushrelative to the insulator block 19, the urging member 49 slides up tothe protruded portion and urges the insulator block 19 still towards thefirst position. When the cover 21 is eventually pushed relative to theinsulator block 19 by the length of movement, the urging member 49slides along the urging leaf spring 47 to its free end. At this instant,the insulator block 19 is urged rightwards and bottomwards towards thesecond position.

It is possible to fix the urging leaf spring 47 to the insulator block19 and the urging member 49 to the cover 21. In order to insuretranslation of the insulator block 19 relative to the cover 21 while thefirst connector 15 is either connected to the second connector 17 orwhile the first connector 15 is disconnected from the second connector17, a like combination of the urging leaf spring and the urging memberis used also at the right ends of the insulator block 19 and the cover21.

Further turning to FIGS. 7 and 8, each of the urging members, such as49, may be given a modified shape in the manner exemplified on the rightside at 49. In FIGS. 5 through 8, it is appreciated that the firstconnector 15 has an additional feature such that the insulator block 19is prevented from being obliquely positioned relative to the cover 21while the first connector 15 is connected and disconnected to and fromthe second connector 17. Furthermore, the insulator block 19 is movedsubstantially in the predetermined direction in addition to the relativemovement perpendicular to the predetermined direction between the firstand the second positions while the first connector 15 is connected anddisconnected to and from the second connector 17. This unnecessitates alocking mechanism for locking the insulator block 19 in the secondposition while the first connector 15 is kept connected to the secondconnector 17.

Referring anew to FIGS. 9 and 10 and once more to FIG. 1, thedescription will proceed to first and second connectors 15 and 17according to a second embodiment of this invention. These first andsecond connectors 15 and 17 are not different from those illustratedwith reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 through 8 except for the following.

In the first connector 15, the insulator block 19 comprises a sideprojection 51 of a rectangular prism shape protruded therefrom near aleft-side end perpendicular to the predetermined direction and to thedirection of movement between the first and the second positionssubstantially to an outer face of the cover 21. In the second connector17, the housing 23 is capable of receiving the side projection 51 andcomprises an engaging member 53 by which the side projection 51 passesand which engages the side projection 51 while the cover 21 is movedinto and out of the housing 23 together with the insulator block 19 keptin the first position as in FIG. 9 and when the insulator block 19 isput eventually in the second position as in FIG. 10, respectively.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, the side projection 51 has a bevelled side projectionend surface directed to the second position when the cover 21 ispositioned in the housing 23 together with the insulator block 19. Theengaging member 51 comprises a top projection protruded towards thefirst position and having a bevelled top end surface directed to thefirst position when the cover 21 is placed in the housing 23 togetherwith the side projection 51.

A combination of the side projection 51 and the engaging member 53prevents push of the cover 21 and the insulator block 19 into thehousing 23 when the insulator block 19 is erroneously directed away fromthe predetermined direction. The combination makes it possible tocorrectly position the insulator block 19 in the housing 23 when thefirst connector 15 is connected to the second connector 17. The bevelledside and top projection end surfaces facilitate correct positioning ofthe insulator block 19 in the housing 23. For this purpose, it ispreferred to use the last-mentioned combination at four corners of theinsulator block 19 and of the housing 23 and additionally to form fourgrooves (not shown) along the inner faces of the housing 23 to guide thefour side projections, such as 51 with these projections a littleprotruded from the outer faces of the cover 21, while the insulatorblock 19 is moved into and out of the housing 23.

Turning to FIGS. 11 and 12 with additional reference to FIG. 1, theinsulator block 19 preferably comprises a stopper leaf spring 55 havingone end fixed thereto and a free end. The cover 21 comprises a stoppingmember 57 which establishes a lock engaging contact with the free endwhile the stopper leaf spring 55 is left free. The housing 23 comprisesa pressing or releasing member 59 for pressing the stopper leaf spring55 to release the lock engaging contact and to enable the insulatorblock 19 to move relative to the cover 21 when the cover 21 is placed inthe housing 23 together with the insulator block 19 and with the stopperleaf spring 55. It is desirable for ease of manufacture of the first andthe second connectors 15 and 17 and for reliable operation to providethe stopper leaf spring 55 and consequently the stopping and thepressing members 57 and 59 midway between the left-side and theright-side ends on each face of the insulator block 19 and along eachface of the cover 21 and therefore on each inner face of the housing 23.

In the example being illustrated, the stopper leaf spring 55 is fixed tothe insulator block 19 at its bottom end. The free end is upwardlyextended parallel to the predetermined direction with a protruded bentportion bent away from the insulator block 19. The cover 21 has adownward projection on each face. In the downward projection, a steppedportion provides the stopping member 57. The pressing member 59 pressesthe protruded bent portion against a spring action of the stopper leafspring 55.

In cooperation with the stopping member 57, the stopping leaf spring 55prevents the insulator block 19 from moving relative to the cover 21parallel to the predetermined direction and consequently perpendicularto the predetermined direction while the first connector 15 is leftalone without connected to the second connector 17. As a result, theinsulator block 19 is never dispositioned relative to the cover 21 toundesiredly prevent push of the cover 21 into the housing 23 even if thefirst and the second connectors 15 and 17 comprise the side protrusions,such as 51, and the engaging members, such as 53. When the cover 21 ispushed into the housing 23 together with the insulator block 19 and thestopping leaf spring 55, the pressing member 59 releases the lockengaging contact to establish correct electric connection between theelectric contacts 25 and the electric conductors 27. Inasmuch as thefirst connector 15 is correctly connected to the second connector 17, nounnatural force is applied to the electric contacts 25 and/or to theelectric conductors 27 while the first connector 15 is disconnected fromthe second connector 27. The electric contacts 25 and/or the electricconductors 27 are never damaged.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, not illustrated merely for simplicity are theelectric contacts 25, the electric conductors 27, and the intermediatecontacts 45 described in conjunction with FIGS. 5 through 8. Theinsulator block 19 has a bottom wall. The electric contacts 25 arerigidly fixed to the bottom wall.

Reviewing FIGS. 11 and 12, it is possible to define the pressing member59 without mentioning to the housing 23. That is, it is possible tounderstand that the second connector 17 comprises the pressing member59. In this event, the pressing member 59 releases the lock engagingcontact to enable the insulator block 19 to move relative to the cover21 when the first connector 15 is connected to the second connector 17with the stopper leaf spring 55 brought into contact with the pressingmember 59.

While this invention has thus far been described in specific connectionwith two preferred embodiments thereof and a few preferredmodifications, it will now be readily possible for one skilled in theart to put this invention into practice in various other manners. Forexample, the housing 23 need not comprise the intermediate contacts 45but may merely rigidly hold the electric conductors 27 therein. Aboveall, the first connector 15 may comprise only two pairs of the elongateslots 29 and 31 and either the combinations of the protrusion elements33 and 35 or the elongate protrusions 37 and 39. In this event, theelongate slots 29 and 31 may be formed either on one face alone or onboth faces of the insulator block 19 with the elongate slots 29 and 31spaced apart by a predetermined spacing from each other. It isfurthermore possible to form only one pair of the elongate slot 29 andeither the combination of the protrusion elements 33 or the elongateprotrusion 37 either along only one face of the insulator block 19 oralong only one inner face of the cover 21.

What is claimed is:
 1. A connector for completing a connection from afirst connector to a second connector with said first and said secondconnectors disposed in a predetermined direction, said first connectorcomprising an insulator block rigidly holding a plurality of electriccontacts parallel to said predetermined direction and a cover coveringsaid insulator block, said cover being movable in said predetermineddirection by a distance equal to a length of a desired cover-to-blockmovement, one of said insulator block and said cover having an elongateslot which is inclined at a predetermined angle relative to saidpredetermined direction and a protrusion on the other of said insulatingblock and said cover, said protrusion being movable in said elongateslot when said cover is moved in said predetermined direction,wherein:said elongate slot has a slot length in said predetermineddirection which is at least twice said length of movement; and saidprotrusion has a length in said predetermined direction which issubstantially equal to said length of movement.
 2. A connector asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined angle is less than 45°.3. A connector as claimed in claim 1, said elongate hole and saidprotrusion being a first elongate hole and a first projection,wherein:one of said insulator block and said cover is provided with asecond elongate hole with said predetermined angle formed between saidpredetermined direction and said second elongate hole, with said holelength given in said predetermined direction, and with a predeterminedspacing left from one of said first elongate hole and said firstprotrusion that is formed in said one of insulator block and cover; theother of said insulator block and said cover being provided with asecond protrusion with said protrusion length given in saidpredetermined direction to be movable in said second elongate hole whensaid cover is moved in said predetermined direction.
 4. A connector forcompleting a connection from a first connector to a second connectorwith said first and said second connectors disposed in a predetermineddirection, said first connector comprising an insulator block rigidlyholding a plurality of electric contacts parallel to said predetermineddirection and a cover covering said insulator block, said cover beingmovable in said predetermined direction by a distance equal to a lengthof a desired cover-to-block movement, one of said insulator block andsaid cover having an elongate slot which is inclined at a predeterminedangle relative to said predetermined direction and a protrusion on theother of said block and said cover, said protrusion being movable insaid elongate slot when said cover is moved in said predetermineddirection, wherein:said elongate slot having a slot length in saidpredetermined direction which is at least twice said length of movement;said protrusion having a length in said predetermined direction which issubstantially equal to said length of movement, said elongate slot andsaid protrusion being a first elongate slot and a first projection,wherein:one of said insulator block and said cover has a second elongateslot with said predetermined angle formed between said predetermineddirection and said second elongate slot with said slot length given insaid predetermined direction, and with a predetermined spacing left fromone of said first elongate slot and said first protrusion that is formedin said one of said insulator block and cover; the other of saidinsulator block and said cover having a second protrusion with saidprotrusion length in said predetermined direction, said secondprotrusion being movable in said second elongate slot when said cover ismoved in said predetermined direction; and each of said first and saidsecond protrusions having first and second protrusion elements with acombination of said first and said second protrusion elements given saidprotrusion length.
 5. A connector for completing a connection from afirst connector to a second connector with said first and said secondconnectors disposed in a predetermined direction, said first connectorcomprising an insulator block rigidly holding a plurality of electriccontacts parallel to said predetermined direction and a cover coveringsaid insulator block, said cover being movable in said predetermineddirection by a distance equal to a length of a desired cover-to-blockmovement, one of said insulator block and said cover having an elongateslot which is inclined at a predetermined angle relative to saidpredetermined direction and a protrusion on the other of said block andsaid cover, said protrusion being movable in said elongate slot whensaid cover is moved in said predetermined direction, wherein:saidelongate slot having a slot length in said predetermined direction whichis at least twice said length of movement; said protrusion having alength in said predetermined direction which is substantially equal tosaid length of movement, said elongate slot and said protrusion being afirst elongate slot and a first projection, wherein:one of saidinsulator block and said cover has a second elongate slot with saidpredetermined angle formed between said predetermined direction and saidsecond elongate slot, with said slot length given in said predetermineddirection, and with a predetermined spacing left from one of said firstelongate slot and said first protrusion that is formed in said one ofsaid insulator block and cover; the other of said insulator block andsaid cover having a second protrusion with said protrusion length insaid predetermined direction, said second protrusion being movable insaid second elongate hole when said cover is moved in said predetermineddirection; and each of said first and said second protrusions being anelongate protrusion having said protrusion length.
 6. A connector forcompleting a connection from a first connector to a second connectorwith said first and said second connectors disposed in a predetermineddirection, said first connector comprising an insulator block rigidlyholding a plurality of electric contacts parallel to said predetermineddirection and a cover covering said insulator block, said cover beingmovable in said predetermined direction by a distance equal to a lengthof a desired cover-to-block movement, one of said insulator block andsaid cover having an elongate slot which is inclined at a predeterminedangle relative to said predetermined direction and a protrusion on theother of said block and said cover, said protrusion being movable insaid elongate slot when said cover is moved in said predetermineddirection, wherein:said elongate slot has a slot length in saidpredetermined direction which is at least twice said length of movement;said protrusion has a length in said predetermined direction which issubstantially equal to said length of movement, said elongate slot andsaid protrusion being a first elongate slot and a first projection,wherein:one of said insulator block and said cover has a second elongateslot with said predetermined angle formed between said predetermineddirection and said second elongate slot, with said slot length given insaid predetermined direction, and with a predetermined spacing left fromone of said first elongate slot and said first protrusion that is formedin said one of said insulator block and cover; the other of saidinsulator block and said cover having a second protrusion with saidprotrusion length in said predetermined direction, said secondprotrusion being movable in said second elongate slot when said cover ismoved in said predetermined direction; said insulator block beingmovable relative to said cover with a movement perpendicular to saidpredetermined direction between first and second positions when saidcover is moved by said length of movement to disconnect and connect saidfirst connector from and to said second connector, wherein: one of saidinsulator block and said cover comprises an urging leaf spring having anend fixed thereto; the other of said insulator block and said covercomprising an urging member which is fixed thereto to be slidable alongsaid urging leaf spring, having an end fixed thereto; the other of saidinsulator block and said cover comprising an urging member which isfixed thereto to be slidable along said urging leaf spring, and saidurging member urges said insulator block towards said first positionwhile said insulator block is in said first position and is being movedbetween said first and second positions.
 7. A connector as claimed inclaim 6, wherein said urging member urges said insulator block towardssaid second position when said insulator block is put in said secondposition.
 8. A connector as claimed in claim 6, said second connectorcomprising a housing for receiving said cover, wherein:said insulatorblock comprises a side projection protruded therefrom perpendicular tosaid predetermined direction and to a direction of movement thereofbetween said first and said second positions; said housing being capableof receiving said side projection and comprising an engaging member bywhich said side projection passes and which engages said side projectionwhile said cover is moved into and out of said housing together withsaid insulator block and with said side projection and when saidinsulator block is put in said second positions, respectively.
 9. Aconnector as claimed in claim 8, wherein:said side projection has abevelled side projection end surface directed towards said secondposition; said engaging member comprising a top projection protrudedtowards said first position and having a bevelled top end surfacedirected towards said first position when said insulator block ispositioned in said housing together with said side projection.
 10. Aconnector as claimed in claim 3, wherein:said insulator block comprisesa stopper leaf spring having an end fixed thereto and a free end; saidcover comprising a stopper member establishing an engaging contact withsaid free end while said stopper leaf spring is left free; said secondconnector comprising a pressing member for pressing said stopper leafspring to release said engaging contact and to enable said insulatorblock to move relative to said cover when said first connector isconnected to said second connector with said stopper leaf spring broughtinto contact with said pressing member.